Both the CHS boys’ and girls’ swim teams were up against Seaside and achieved wins on both sides 
Wednesday, the girls with a 128-55 win and the boys with triumph of 123-52.
After accumulating many points throughout the meet, the boys finished up with the 4×100 relay, taking first and third place. The girls amassed many wins as well, with success in events such as the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
Both the girls’ and boys’ teams already made a splash in a March 1 meet, where the girls beat Notre Dame 125-53 and the boys barely lost to Palma with a close score of 86-84. Having only lost by a few seconds, the boys still had a great deal to celebrate.
Junior Brandon Kim, who won both the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke at Palma, is one to watch out for. Kim, whose 200 IM time is a CCS qualifier, has high hopes for the upcoming season.
“Even though we have a small team, we have a fast team,” Kim says. “I’m looking forward to trying to win every meet and us becoming MTAL champs, maybe start a new tradition.”
Kim is also sure to mention the new boys’ coach, Kamaron Rianda, as a positive new addition to the team. Rianda, who graduated from CHS back in 2005, has an extensive knowledge of swimming and what it takes to succeed.
“Our biggest goal is to get back to winning MTAL [championships] and beating Stevenson,” says Rianda, whose coaching methods are already paying off for the boys. “I’m trying to get the guys to buy into a new system of working hard.”
Who should Stevenson look out for? Rianda says, “Joe Sunde, Grant Thornburgh, Kenny Doo and a couple juniors and sophomores coming up are some of the best.”
The success of the girls, however, must be taken into account as well. After their win against Notre Dame in which junior Meagan Hoch earned CCS-qualifying marks in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke, coach Diana Whitesides had much to say on the matter.
“We have a shot this year,” says Whitesides, whose girls went to CCS in the previous season and dropped their times. “Our rivals are Catalina and Stevenson, but we have many girls all poised to make CCS cuts for the relay and individuals.”
According to Whitesides, these girls include juniors Hoch and Sasha Polovneff and sophomores Megan Holett, Brianna Sims and Kayce Stacheleck. Sims, though new to the team, was a double event winner in the first meet.
Polovneff, a double event winner in both meets, shares this enthusiasm for the season to come.
“Our team is looking strong,” Polovneff says. “We’re three seconds away from CCS time, so we should be able to drop by the end of the season. Hard work, dedication and attendance will help us win.”
As of Wednesday, the boys now have a single diver, freshman Jack Maughan, who earned several points toward the boys’ overall score.
In this sport, unity is important. Says Hoch, “We unite as a family. [The team] is big enough to have an impact in swim meets, but small enough for us to be friends with one another. I’m excited to see such a good turnout.”
-JACKIE MAULDWIN
